Carmelo Anthony will likely become first former Syracuse player to win NBA scoring title

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony drives on Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant during their game April 7 in Oklahoma City. Durant has been more durable than Carmelo this season, having played in all 81 of the Thunderâs games. Carmelo has sat out 13 games.Sue Ogrocki | The Associated Press

It’s not a done deal, but Carmelo Anthony is on the cusp of winning his first scoring title in the NBA.

He has to unseat Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, who has the led the NBA in scoring average for three seasons in a row. Carmelo sat out Monday night’s game against Charlotte and will likely also miss Wednesday’s game against Atlanta. The Knicks have secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, so Carmelo could afford to sit out and rest a sore shoulder.

Durant scored 29 points against Sacramento on Monday, bringing his average to 28.148. Carmelo’s average is 28.657.

The Thunder plays Milwaukee on Wednesday, the last day of the NBA regular season. To retain his title — and assuming Carmelo is idle — Durant will have to score 70 points against the Bucks. However, it also is possible that Durant will sit out with the Thunder clinching the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with Monday's win.

They played twice this season. Carmelo sat out their first game, a 95-94 Thunder victory at Madison Square Garden on March 7. Durant had 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists. In their second game, on April 7, the Knicks won 125-120 at OKC. Carmelo had 36 points and 12 rebounds. Durant had 27 points and seven assists.